Last week Mike was away for work and this week our nanny is on vacation so things at home have gone a little off the rails. Getting out the door in the morning has been chaotic to say the least. I honestly don't know how single mothers do it.
Seriously— do you bathe your kids more than once a week? Because that's impressive and someone should give awards to single mothers with clean children.
To make matters more complex, Harlow has recently learned how to climb up to the top of the coffee table. The second you put her down anywhere in the apartment, she beelines straight for it, climbs up that chair (or whatever else she can find) and sits on top with a look of accomplishment so great, it's really hard to spoil it for her by putting her back on the floor.
Mazzy was never a climber so this adds an unexpected obstacle to my main goal— keeping the children alive.
What else happened these past few weeks?
MAZZY CHANGED THE COLOR SCHEME FOR HALLOWEEN
Mazzy's been busy pinning Halloween stuff onto her Pinterest board. We've got sparkly pink pumpkins, pink and purple "corn candy", and Holly Madison in a Tinkerbell costume. With a board full of things like pink whale cookies, bicycles made out of Oreos and dogs wearing shirts, Mazzy's Pins is a pretty fun place to be.
A bunch of you have said that Mazzy's board inspired you to start a board for your kids as well. Please leave a link to your board in the comment section. I'd love to check them out.
HARLOW FELL OFF THE CHARTS
My skinny little munchkin weighs in at 15.3 pounds at 10 months. Our pediatrician told us to fatten her up for the winter by adding butter and cream to her food. Why can't my doctor tell me things like that?
MAZZY DREW A PICTURE OF ME
It's actually supposed to be me as a baby, which explains the swaddle but does not explain the fact that I look like a character from Where the Wild Things Are.
I IMPRESSED MY DAD
Do you remember the episode of Seinfeld when Jerry gets his dad a Cadillac because it's the ultimate thing that would symbolize his son's success? Two weeks ago, I got to do that for my dad, except instead of a car, I took him to the finale of America's Got Talent.
For some odd reason, my father is OBSESSED with America's Got Talent. After each episode, he emails me and my sister clips of the best acts to try and convert us into fans of the show. I haven't had one conversation with him in over a year that doesn't somehow include how WOWED he is by the talent in America.
Anyway, when Orville Redenbacher randomly invited me to the finale, I told them I would love to go if I could bring my father. They said "yes" and I made it into the biggest, best surprise ever.
I imagine his reaction would be the same as surprising a child with a trip to Disney World.
He was even more excited when he learned we got to go to the Orville Redenbacher lounge. "Really???!!! That's where all the contestants hang out!!!!" We took pictures wearing the trademark glasses and bowtie and then he smuggled two bags of popcorn on his way out.
When we were walking down the aisle to our seats, my father (humble guy that he is) said, "Ilana. Watch this." Then he threw his hands up in the air like he was Howard Stern. Everyone started applauding because apparently the audience at the finale of America's Got Talent will applaud at anything.
My dad spent the evening chatting with everyone he could about the contestants, because he was finally surrounded by people who felt as passionately about the show as he does. And for a perfect ending to the night, his favorite won.
So, a big thanks to Orville Redenbacher for saving me $65,000 because now I don't have to buy my dad a Cadillac.
I hope everyone has a great weekend! Since I was left alone with the kids all week, my husband has given me permission to go out to a childless brunch with some friends. HOW EXCITING IS THAT???? Almost as exciting as Disney World.
See you back here next week,
— Mommy Shorts
PS: If you haven't watched The Mommy Show yet, please check it out!
That picture Mazzy drew of you is epic. I’m especially a fan of the lone, sagging eyelash.
Maybe Harlow will share her butter and cream dishes :). Though what’s so wrong with a low weight baby? My 3yo didn’t gain as much weight as the doc would like so he recommended PediaSure or other high calorie drink every day for 6 weeks and then have him re weighed. We ignored the advice. He went in and weighed 1 lb more and the doc was satisfied. In my opinion, he probably forgot why my son was being re weighed.
Wow my 3.5 month old is almost 15lbs! We grow em chunky in my family, and it doesn’t hurt that my husband is 6’4″ which means that my entire family may soon tower over me… Mmmmm butter & cream….
Oliver’s Pins!
http://www.pinterest.com/samaparks/olivers-pins/
Also, it totally makes my day how excited your Dad looks in that pic! 🙂
My son learned to climb on the coffee table this week too! And on to our bed and he can almost climb on to his toy box which means be will be standing on the window ledge above it soon….good times.
My Noelle has never been on the chart. Less than 1% every time. Her pediatrician recommended ice cream after lunch and supper. I tried it and she would hold out for dessert. I guess I’d rather have her be skinny than have eating issues and a bad diet.
My little man (EBF) who is 20 weeks weighs a pound less than Harlow…but our pediatrician doesn’t put much stock in charts (which are super outdated anyhow).
Your dad is adorable.
My youngest is almost 8 yrs old and only weighs 42 pounds. Her 11 year old brother weighed that much at 3 1/2 years. The doctor told me when she was 3 to put butter on everything she ate. Kate heard her and started to butter her bacon… She hasn’t gained any weight in almost 2 years but she is incredibly active. I don’t let her butter her bacon anymore but she eats a yogurt before she brushes her teeth and goes to bed. She has energy, she’s active and she eats. I don’t worry much about it.
Your dad looks so genuinely happy. It’s such a good feeling to bring joy to our parents.
And you are lucky I live in Texas because I don’t know if I could resist kidnapping Harlow. She’s such a cutie!
I thought that was a nose – misplaced for sure but I guess it could be a wayward eyelash too.
that sounds like us!
My eldest was/is huge, especially for 2 1/2 years, but I’ve been working like crazy with our doctor because his little brother is 17.2lbs at 7 1/2 months, which is on quite the low end. My doc ended up telling me that I could feed him a ton of solids and he’d still be ok… I think he’s just small, and he’ll grow eventually, as all of his development is still on track. Between the huge boy and the tiny boy, that’s the only thing I can really go by lol
Here in the UK the charts are based on formula fed babies so my breastfed kids were in the 0.2% – luckily my health visitor had kids so said as long as they had energy to do kid stuff they were fine. My friend was told to feed her similarly skinny son a whole baked potato with butter and cheese every lunch time. He was 15 months. I can’t eat that every day! Lunacy…. Someone’s gotta be at the bottom end of the scale and at least its the end where you can still lift them. If its any consolation I got my second child weighed twice in her life since attending baby clinic with her 2.5yr old brother was hideous so just the fact you know what Harlow weighs earns you a good parenting award in my book.
Mazzy’s picture is fab. My daughter drew a family portrait last week in which I appeared to have a matching goatee to her father, which was flattering. She later informed me they were teeth not facial hair which made me feel much better…
Bowties are cool 🙂
I got the same talk from my pediatrician about my baby at her 9 month checkup when she was only 15 pounds. 3 months later, she’s gained 2 pounds and is up to a whopping 17 pounds! What a little chunk, LOL.
I totally stole your idea and started a Pinterest board for my 5 year old. LOVE what she comes up with! http://www.pinterest.com/annaliesbtq/katies-board/
do you really listen to your doctor when they tell you to give your child butter and cream? I hope I’m not like crossing the line when I say this but I hope you research that ..butter and cream can cause any adult to eventually have high cholesterol and clogged arteries (on top of the processed aspect and added GMO and in-organic compounds).. what do these doctors think it’s going to do to a fragile little child. I’m a certified plant-based nutritionist.. my son and I are both raw vegans and his weight has always been fluctuating (he’s 13 months) I argue with the doctor every time I go because he doesn’t eat meat and dairy products. he’s fine! he’s still breastfed. he was walking by 9 months, talks A LOT and also through sign language. he’s super smart and has been ahead in all of his milestones. I’m not judging if you decide to listen to the doctor but I did want you to see this to maybe just alarm you.. doctors hardly know a thing about nutrition! I hope this helps.. like I said I don’t want to be rude but that really caught my eye!
justine XO
Just watched the mommy shows. All of them at once. Hilarious. Can’t believe you let that guy touch your breast pump! I died!
http://www.pinterest.com/s02971/boards/
That’s my board…
Filled w/ lots of recipes and things for my boys…
A few things for ‘ME’, but of course they’re in the dream section which I’m sure you can relate to…
Love your blog… The potty one has been the best by far… I guess b/c I’m potty training too…
I love your dad, that is the best.
Don’t stress too much about her weight. My daughter was about the same and has always been skinny. She is now 14 months old and last month when weighed she was 18.3lb and I think she’d only be around 19-20lb now if that. As long as she’s putting on weight even if its slowly shes fine. If she’s very active which seems to be the case you can add that in also. My daughter is extremely active and has been since 6 months when she started crawling. She’s never stood still since then.
My nugget is small as well! At his last drs appointment he was around 13 lbs. Now he’s 10 months so I’m interested to see what he weighs now. They tell us he’s on track for his height and we have nothing to worry about. I just hate when people make the “oh he’s so TINY!” comment like there is something wrong with him! How does the butter and cream thing work? Just add it to his baby food, I assume? I’ve never heard of it but I’d like to try it! Just to see if it causes any changes (I’ll ask his doctor before I do though!)
My 4 mo old weighed in at 19.5 lbs this week! Our first son was a preemie so this is the polar opposite of his growthbut it reminds me each child is different!
Awww, the story about taking your dad to the AGT finale was so sweet! He looks so happy! And that picture Mazzy drew of you is priceless! lol.
Harlow’s weight – I understand watching the weight chart, because I gave birth to my son two weeks ago at 32 weeks gestation due to preeclampsia at the tail end of a “fun” hospital stay (8 days total) – he was 4lb 1oz at birth. He’s still in the NICU but doing great, gaining weight little by little but at a steady rate more or less. (He takes my pumped milk at feedings if I am not there to work on nursing with him, which he is doing better and better at!) He will have to gain more weight before he can come home, and we wait with bated breath to hear his weight every day. Harlow looks beautiful and healthy! I am not sure what to say about the butter recommendation… I just hope that things work out (not to imply that they are not good now of course!)
And I hope you get to go to your childfree lunch soon! You deserve it!
I have a tiny peanut too! She started walking at 7.5mos which was insane! She “fell off” the chart at 3mos though you really couldn’t say she fell at all. She has been a slow gainer from the beginning but has always followed her own curve which is what her doc said was the most important thing. She was also breastfed which makes a difference. Anyhow, she is 3 now and got back on the chart at her last visit. She was 26.5lbs and in the 9th percentile. Kids grow how they will and as long as there don’t seem to be any other issues, I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have a lean babe! Besides, she is the fastest kid she knows!
Before I read the story to go along with the pic I assumed your dad WAS Orville Redenbacher. Love that story. 🙂